Wanda Fusillo Garcia - 1919-2008

Quietly, devotedly, she left her own legacy

Cecilia Garcia-Akers with tears in her eyes receives her crucifix given to family members by father, Joseph Lopez, of the corpus christi cathedral during burial services for Wanda Garcia who was Cecilia Garcia-Akers mother.

Determined, strong and a quiet homemaker who worked behind the scenes to show unwavering support for her husband's message of equality and justice.

That was life's journey for Wanda Fusillo Garcia, the widow of civil rights pioneer Dr. Hector P. Garcia, her daughters said Wednesday during funeral services at Corpus Christi Cathedral.

"His legacy is her legacy," their daughter, Cecilia Garcia-Akers, said. "She was there through it all and was concerned about how his life would be reflected in history."

Garcia, 88, died in her sleep Saturday morning in a San Antonio hospital.

About 125 people, including members of various American GI Forum chapters across the state, paid respects at the service, which was followed by burial at Seaside Memorial Park. She was laid to rest next to her husband, who died in 1996, and her son, who died at 13.

Described by her daughters as a loving mother with an astute personality, Garcia loved the simple things in life such as gardening and reading. She had a vast home library and stayed informed about politics and current events, something she also expected of others, often quizzing them on daily news.

"People always knew to read the paper or watch the news before they came to visit," daughter Wanda Garcia said. "She used to say 'woe to those who do not know what is going on.'"

She met Hector Garcia in 1943 in her native Italy -- she was a student at the University of Naples and he was serving in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. They married in 1945, less than a month after she completed her doctoral degree in liberal arts, and moved to South Texas shortly after.

The way she was able to leave her family, friends and support group in Italy to create a life in South Texas and establish a family with a great leader illustrated her strength, Bishop Edmond Carmody said.

During the first few years after Hector P. Garcia founded the American GI Forum -- a civil rights organization dedicated to veterans' and education issues -- she served as the organization's secretary, traveling with her husband to towns across South Texas, attending organizational meetings and handing out literature.

As the family grew, Wanda Garcia stayed home with their four children.

"I often wondered how she survived her struggles and loneliness when my father was away, but she was strong in faith," Garcia-Akers said. "She was a strong individual and was able to continue."

She was a devoted mother who read to her daughters, always stressing the importance of education. She had a love of the classics and often played piano for her children, her favorite piece being "Moonlight Sonata."

"She also threw the best birthday parties for us," daughter Wanda Garcia said. "They included piñatas and her specialty lemon cake, which was always decorated with a rose."

Garcia's nephew, local attorney Tony Canales, said she was a loving wife who was generous to others, opening her home to family and friends.

"There's a saying in Spanish that greatly sums you up, Wanda, and that saying is 'eres buena gente'" Canales said. "She was good people."

Canales said his aunt always maintained her composure, noting her patience with some family members, who at times could be boisterous.

"Wanda came into a family where everyone is extremely opinionated and everyone is extremely educated," Canales said to a few laughs, "and I can't remember a time when she ever raised her voice."

Though her demeanor was quiet, her presence remains strong.

Her strong will and determination is to be admired by all, said Alex De la Luz, a Miguel Hernandez American GI Forum chapter member, who traveled from San Antonio to attend the funeral. De la Luz didn't know Garcia personally, but said the family's work for justice prompted him and other chapter members to make the trip to pay their respects.

For Garcia-Akers, the farewell came by way of a familiar ritual.

As her mother's health declined, Garcia-Akers would walk into her hospital room and say, "I love you mama" and blow her a kiss.

On Wednesday, as the casket went down the cathedral's aisle, Garcia-Akers blew her mother a final kiss goodbye.